So then, let us who minister be regarded as ^aservants of Christ and ^bstewards (trustees, administrators) of ^cthe mysteries of God that He chooses to reveal. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required as essential and demanded of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy. 3 But as for me personally it matters very little to me that I may be judged by you or any human court on this point; in fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 I ^aam aware of nothing against myself and I feel blameless, but I am not by this ^bacquitted before God. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 So ^ado not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait ^buntil the Lord comes, for He will both ^cbring to light the secret things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s ^dpraise will come from God.

6 Now I have applied these things that is, the analogies about factions to myself and Apollos for your benefit, believers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond ^awhat is written in Scripture, so that none of you will ^bbecome arrogant and boast ^cin favor of one minister or teacher against the other. 7 For who regards you as superior or what sets you apart as special? ^aWhat do you have that you did not receive from another? And if in fact you received it from God or someone else, why do you boast as if you had not received it but had gained it by yourself?

8 You behave as if you are ^aalready filled with spiritual wisdom and in need of nothing more. Already you have become rich in spiritual gifts! You in your conceit have ascended your thrones and become kings without us; and how I wish that it were true and that you did reign as kings, so that we might reign with you. 9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles at the end of the line, like men ^asentenced to death and paraded as prisoners in a procession, because we ^bhave become a spectacle to the world a show in the world’s amphitheater, both to angels and to men. 10 We are regarded as ^afools for Christ, but ^byou are so wise in Christ; ^cwe are weak, but you are strong; you are highly esteemed, but we are dishonored. 11 To this present hour we are both ^ahungry and thirsty; we are continually poorly dressed, and we are roughly treated, and wander homeless. 12 We work for our living, ^aworking hard with our own hands. When we are ^breviled and verbally abused, we bless. When we are ^cpersecuted, we take it patiently and endure. 13 When we are slandered, we try to be conciliatory and answer softly. We have ^abecome like the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to ^ashame you, but to warn and advise you as my beloved ^bchildren. 15 For even if you were to have ten thousand ^ateachers to guide you in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you, for I ^bbecame your father in ^cChrist Jesus through the ^dgood news of salvation. 16 So I urge you, be ^aimitators of me just as a child imitates his father. 17 For this reason I ^ahave sent ^bTimothy to you, who is my ^cbeloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my way of life in Christ my conduct and my precepts for godly living, ^djust as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some of you have become ^aarrogant and pretentious, as though I were not ^bcoming to see you. 19 But I ^awill come to you soon, ^bif the Lord is willing, and I will find out not just the talk of these ^carrogant people, but evaluate their spiritual power whether they live up to their own claims. 20 For the kingdom of God is not based on talk ^abut on power. 21 Which do you prefer? ^aShall I come to you with a rod of discipline and correction, or with love and a gentle spirit?

This is the way any person is to regard us: as ^aservants of Christ and ^bstewards of ^cthe mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required ¹of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human ¹court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I ^aam not aware of anything against myself; however I am not ^bvindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore ^ado not go on ¹passing judgment before ²the time, but wait ^buntil the Lord comes, who will both ^cbring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then ^dpraise will come to each person from God.

6 Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed ^awhat is written, so that no one of you will ^bbecome ¹arrogant ^cin behalf of one against the other. 7 For who considers you as superior? ^aWhat do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 You are ^aalready filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men ^acondemned to death, because we ^bhave become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. 10 We are ^afools on account of Christ, but ^byou are prudent in Christ! ^cWe are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! 11 Up to this present hour we are both ^ahungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; 12 and we labor, ^aworking with our own hands; when we are ^bverbally abused, we bless; when we are ^cpersecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we ¹reply as friends; we have ^abecome as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to ^ashame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ^bchildren. 15 For if you were to have countless ^atutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in ^bChrist Jesus I ^cbecame your father through the ^dgospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, be ^aimitators of me. 17 For this reason I ^ahave sent to you ^bTimothy, who is my ^cbeloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^djust as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become ^1aarrogant, as though I were not ^bcoming to you. 19 But I ^awill come to you soon, ^bif the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the ¹words of those who are ^carrogant, but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is ^anot in ¹words, but in power. 21 What do you desire? ^aThat I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?